An Assessment of Recreational Bank Angling in the Free State Province, South Africa, Using Licence Sale and Tournament Data

An assessment of recreational bank angling in the Free State Province, South Africa, using licence sale and tournament data

LM Barkhuizen1, 2*, OLF Weyl3, 4 and JG van As2 1Free State Department of Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Private Bag X20801, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa 2Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of the Free State, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa 3South African Institute of Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB), Private Bag X 1015, Grahamstown, 6140 4Centre for Invasion Biology, SAIAB, Private Bag X 1015, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa

ABSTRACT

Recreational angling is an important form of utilisation of inland fisheries in South Africa but there is little information on this sector. The objective of this study was to provide an assessment of recreational bank angling in the Free State Province using licence sale and tournament data. During 2013 and 2014, 8 256 and 7 710 angling licences were sold, respectively. This represents a decline of 76% compared to the total licence sales in the Province in 1971. Tournament catch and effort data were obtained for 4 796 tournaments that were held on 17 dams from 1974 to 2014. Reported tournament effort decreased by 67% from 8 548 tournament days in 1998 to 2 828 days in 2014. Tournament catch composition was dominated by alien common carp Cyprinus carpio. Overall, this species comprised 81% of the weight and 77% of the number of fish landed during tournaments making it the most important angling species. The recent observed increase in subsistence angling could not be included in the analysis as participants are mostly not licensed. Alternative methods are therefore required if total catch and effort are to be estimated.

Keywords: recreational, fisheries, catch, effort, participation

INTRODUCTION to the diet even in non-fishing households (Ellender et al., 2010b). In these non-fishing households, fish was purchased In South Africa, subsistence and recreational angling is from anglers who sold their excess catch (Ellender et al., 2009). currently the dominant form of utilisation of inland fisheries Ellender et al. (2010b) therefore recommended that the value of (Ellender et al., 2010a; McCafferty et al., 2012; Weyl and angling for communities near impoundments should be taken Cowley, 2015). This is anomalous in the African context as into consideration when developing inland fisheries. This is fisheries in other countries are generally heavily exploited particularly relevant because there is increasing evidence that by small-scale fishers using gears such as gill nets, seine nets subsistence-motivated angling is becoming an important use of and traps (Weyl et al., 2010; Cooke et al., 2013; Weyl and South African impoundments (Weyl et al., 2007; Ellender et al., Cowley, 2015). Although inland fisheries in South Africa are 2009; 2010b; Tapela et al., 2015). generally considered underexploited from a harvest perspective While South African inland fisheries are data-poor, data (Weyl et al., 2007; Britz et al., 2015), case studies of angling from angling tournaments are a valuable resource which on the Hartbeespoort Dam (Cochrane, 1987) and the Gariep can be used to derive preliminary angler catch statistics for Dam (Ellender et al., 2009, 2010a, 2010b) suggest that harvests fisheries (Hargrove et al., 2015). Some recreational anglers by recreational and subsistence anglers can be considerable. are members of angling clubs that are affiliated to the South Cochrane (1987), for example, estimated a mean annual harvest African Sport Anglers and Casting Confederation (SASACC), of 695 tons of fish from the 2 000 ha eutrophic Hartbeespoort an organisation which in 2016 represented 28 433 anglers Dam by recreational anglers from the metropolitan settlements (SASACC, 2016). Members of angling clubs often take part in Gauteng. In a more rural setting, Ellender et al. (2010a) in angling tournaments (Taylor et al., 2015). As one of the estimated anglers harvested 88 t·y–1 from the Gariep Dam, aims of tournament angling is qualification for a place on a situated on the provincial boundary between the Eastern provincial or national team, members are guided by, and must Cape and Free State Provinces. Ellender et al. (2010a; 2010b) adhere to, the constitution, policies, rules and regulations of demonstrated that this harvest contributed directly to the SASACC and, importantly, report their tournament catch livelihoods of some 450 anglers whose primary motivation data to the local conservation departments. In the absence of for angling was subsistence. Subsequent household surveys, fishery independent survey data, these tournament data are a in the rural settlements of Venterstad in the Eastern Cape and valuable resource that can be used to indicate the status of a fish Hydro Park in the Free State, revealed that 56% of households stock and enable comparative assessments between fisheries contained at least 1 angler and that fish contributed significantly (Hargrove et al., 2015).

* To whom all correspondence should be addressed:  Tel: +2751 400 4787; e-mail: [email protected] Received 26 October 2016; accepted in revised form 20 June 2017

http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/wsa.v43i3.09 Available on website http://www.wrc.org.za ISSN 1816-7950 (Online) = Water SA Vol. 43 No. 3 July 2017 Published under a Creative Commons Attribution Licence 442 Angling has a long history in the Free State Province. recreational anglers and to use bank-angling tournament catch In an overview of recreational fisheries in 1963, Yates (1963) data to provide a detailed description of target species and noted that there were limited angling opportunities due to catch rates by this sector in the Free State Province. the seasonal flows of the rivers and reported that the best angling was to be had in the rivers after rains, when carp MATERIALS AND METHODS Cyprinus carpio and yellowfish Labeobarbus spp. appeared in large numbers. With the construction of several large Study area impoundments during the Orange River Development Project The Free State Province covers an area of 129 480 km2 and has (ORDP), Opperman (1965) noted the vast potential that the a population of 2.8 million people (www.statssa.gov.za). The project had for the development of fisheries in central South Province is situated centrally within the Orange-Senqu River Africa. Indeed, inland fisheries are now of considerable interest Basin which is the most turbid river system in Africa (Compton because the Free State Province contains 412 impoundments, et al., 2010) and the fourth most turbid river in the world mainly located in the Orange and Vaal River basins, which (Bremner et al., 1990). Nearly 90% of the land in the Province cover a combined surface area of 147 677 ha at full capacity. is used for agriculture, of which 30% is accounted for by crop The potential for fisheries in these impoundments to contribute production (FS DETEA, 2009). The need for water resulted in to economic development and food security is of interest to the construction of 412 impoundments that cover a combined the provincial government. Unfortunately, the lack of formal surface area of 147 677 ha. Due to the seasonality of rainfall monitoring of inland fisheries is a severe impediment to and water released from dams for irrigation, the water levels of informed decision making (Weyl and Cowley, 2015). most dams fluctuate seasonally with periods of sharp increase Tournament catch data are available for public dams where in capacity, followed by periods of gradual or sharp decrease in access to public waters by anglers is controlled by the Free water level. State Department of Economic, Small Business Development, The fish fauna of the OSRS is known for its low species Tourism and Environmental Affairs (FS DESTEA). This is diversity. Fish communities in Free State dams are dominated because fisheries are managed according to the provisions of by 4 large cyprinids, namely Orange River mudfish Labeo Nature Conservation Ordinance 8 of 1969 (NCO, 1969) and capensis, moggel Labeo umbratus, L. aeneus, C. carpio, and the Nature Conservation Regulations of 1983 (NCR, 1983) the sharptooth catfish Clarias gariepinus (Barkhuizen, 2015). (see Table 1). Importantly, all recreational anglers in the Free These fish are mostly targeted from the shoreline by angling State Province are required to be in possession of a valid with rod-and-reel and baited hooks as described for the Gariep angling licence. Angling tournament organizers are required to Dam recreational fishery by Ellender et al. (2009). This form submit tournament results to the FS DESTEA within 2 weeks of angling is nationally referred to as bank angling and some of the event. The aim of the current study was, therefore, to participants belong to angling clubs that are affiliated to the use licence sale data to obtain a first estimate of the number of Free State Freshwater Bank Angling Association (FSFBAA).

TABLE 1 Summary of the provisions and restrictions with regards to the conservation and utilisation of freshwater fish in the Free State Province according to the NCO (1969) and NCR (1983) as amended on 17 March 1995 Aspect Notes Angling licence All anglers must be in possession of a valid angling licence when fishing. An angling licence costs 40 ZAR and is valid for a period of 1 year, i.e. ,1 January until 31 December. Private landowners, their families and employees are exempted from having an angling licence when angling off-channel impoundments on farm land. Access Permission must be obtained prior to entering any angling area. Restrictions Restrictions may be put in place for the catch of certain species during certain periods. Spawning fish, their ova and fry and spawning areas may not be disturbed and these areas may not be entered into. Gear Anglers may only use 2 lines to which no more than 2 hooks with natural bait, 2 artificial flies or 1 artificial lure or spoon, are attached. No jigging may be done and the setting of a long line is prohibited. Feeding (ground bait) and angling places may not be marked. Possession of fish With the exception of keep-nets and landing nets, only people with the necessary permits and nets and traps authorisation may sell, or be in possession of, any type of nets. Import, sell and Prohibited unless an approved permit has been issued by the FS DESTEA. release of live fish Bag and size limits No angler may catch and keep more than 10 smallmouth yellowfish Labeobarbus aeneus which are larger than 450 mm per day. All L. aeneus smaller than 450 mm must be released. Immediate catch-and-release is applicable for largemouth yellowfish Labeobarbus kimberleyensis and none may be kept or killed. No more than 6 trout larger than 300 mm may be caught and kept per day [this was only applicable at Sterkfontein Dam where trout was stocked]. There are no further bag or size limits for the other fish species occurring in the Free State Province. Bait No live fish may be used as bait. Angling May only be arranged and presented after an official permit has been issued. During 2014/2015 a permit tournaments cost 100 ZAR for an angling club to host tournaments. This permit was valid for a period of 1 year. Only anglers in possession of valid angling licences are allowed to partake in angling tournaments.

Angling licences are sold at most offices of provincial nature reserves and resorts, the head office of the FS DESTEA in Bloemfontein and historically at a few retail stores. Duplicates of angling licences are kept in the licence books. Unfortunately, statistics on licences have never been compiled and records were only available in hard copy. After an initial investigation of the offices where angling licences were sold, data on licence sales were obtained for the 2013 and 2014 calendar years. Data regarding the number of anglers and angling clubs affiliated with the FSFBAA for the period January 2013 until December 2014 were obtained from the Figure 1 executive committee of the association. Number of angling licences sold in the Free State Province during 2013 and 2014 Tournament catch data

Key informant interviews with angling club members were Tournament data used to provide an understanding of the organisational structure of tournament angling. In summary, angling Data were available for 4 796 tournaments held on 17 dams tournaments are controlled by the constitution and rules between 1974 and 2014. This was an average of 120 tournaments of the FSFBAA with regard to tournament participation a year over the 40-year assessment period. A summary of the and enforcement of specific rules regarding the duration, physical characteristics of these impoundments and available equipment, zoning of angling areas, and allocation of points data is presented in Table 2 and the location of the dams and based on the number and weight of fish caught. With regard the nearest urban areas is presented in Fig. 2. The distribution to the allocation of points, an important consideration is that of tournament effort between impoundments is summarised in the number and weight of fish caught during tournaments is Table 3. On average, there are 182 tournaments held each year restricted to fish weighing more than 150 g. Smaller fish are where anglers expended a mean (± S.E.) effort of 4 281 ± 923 not counted but are added to the total weight of the total catch. angler·days–1·year–1. The length of angling tournaments was Angling tournament catch records were obtained as a hard 9.2 ± 0.6 h. During tournaments 64% of anglers weighed at least copy at the permit office in Bloemfontein and digitized. 1 fish and the average CPUE in terms of number of fish was The data were aggregated for all anglers taking part in a 3.9 ± 0.7 fish·angler–1·day–1. The average CPUE in terms of the tournament and include the total catch as the number of fish weight of the catch was 3.3 ± 0.4 kg·angler–1·day–1 Preliminary (> 150 g) and the total catch by weight of all fish, the number analysis of CPUE data did not detect any consistent trends with of participants and the total number of hours fished. These age, water level, distance from the nearest town, and population data allowed for the determination of species composition and size within the urban area. As a result, data for all years catch per unit effort (CPUE), expressed as fish·angler–1·day–1 were grouped for comparison. Mean CPUE was surprisingly and kg·angler–1· day–1 for each tournament, and an estimate consistent between impoundments with only the CPUE from of the probability of an angler catching a fish using the Bloemhof Dam being significantly higher than that of other methods of Hargrove et al. (2015). It is important to note impoundments (Kruskall Wallis non-parametric ANOVA, that for tournaments each angler is allowed to use 2 rods p < 0.05; Table 3). simultaneously. The most anglers participated in angling tournaments held at Bloemhof Dam, followed by Rustfontein, Vaal, Koppies and RESULTS Krugersdrift Dams, which also hosted the most tournaments (Table 3). Krugersdrift and Rustfontein Dams are situated close Angling participation to the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality while Koppies Dam is preferred by angling clubs in the Northern Free State as In total, 8 256 angling licences were sold in the Free State a tournament venue. Because of its large surface area and close Province in 2013 and 7 710 during 2014. Monthly sales of proximity to the Gauteng Province, the Vaal Dam was also one angling licences in the Free State Province are presented of the most frequented tournament angling venues. in Fig. 1. Licence sales were highest during the summer The total number of tournament angling days, based on (December–January) and Easter (March/April) school holiday data available from 1974 to 2014, is summarised in Fig. 3. periods and lowest in winter (May–August) (Fig. 1). According There was a general increase in the number of tournament days to the membership records of the 30 FSFBAA-affiliated angling between 1974 and 2000. Gaps in the data from 1994 to 2014 are clubs, there were 804 and 748 club-affiliated anglers in the the result of inconsistencies in record keeping and data loss at Province in 2013 and 2014, respectively. When expressed as a the permit office. Data for 2013 and 2014 are, however, accurate percentage of total licence sales, affiliated club anglers comprise as these were collected and compiled by LM Barkhuizen. This about 10% of recreational anglers licensed to fish in the Free indicates a general decline of tournament angling effort in the State Province. Free State Province between 2000 and 2014.

13 10

12 16 17

8 7 3 2 6

5 4

Figure 2 Location of important dams for recreational bank angling and their location within the Free State Province. 1 – Gariep; 2 – Kalkfontein; 3 – Tierpoort; 4 – Welbedacht; 5 – Knellpoort; 6 – Jimmie Roos; 7 – Moutloatsi Setlogelo; 8 – Rustfontein; 9 – Krugersdrift; 10 – Bloemhof; 11 – Erfenis; 12 – Allemanskraal; 13 – Bloemhoek; 14 – Koppies; 15 – Vaal; 16 – Sol Plaatjie; 17 – Sterkfontein.

Figure 3 Total number of angling days based on angling tournament records of 17 impoundments in the Free State Province from 1974–2014

http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/wsa.v43i3.09 Available on website http://www.wrc.org.za ISSN 1816-7950 (Online) = Water SA Vol. 43 No. 3 July 2017 Published under a Creative Commons Attribution Licence 445 TABLE 2 Physical characteristics and summary of available tournament catch data for dams located in the Free State Province, South Africa Dam Constr. SA (ha) MD Z.D. CON Nearest town DNT Years of data Competitions year (m) (cm) (µS/m) (km) available (n) Allemanskraal 1960 2 667 6.7 16 238 Ventersburg 22 30 252 Bloemhoek 1995 370 7.1 31 333 Kroonstad 3 6 80 Bloemhof 1970 23 067 5.5 29 590 Bloemhof 1.3 36 749 Erfenis 1960 3 291 6.5 16 266 Theunissen 15 20 64 Gariep 1971 35 216 15.2 27 119 Gariep Dam 2 8 48 Jimmie Roos 1920 115 3.1 21 422 Dewetsdorp 15 10 23 Kalkfontein 1938 3 769 6.9 33 591 Koffiefontein 23 23 98 Knellpoort 1989 977 14 30 165 Wepener 15 4 5 Koppies 1911 1 439 2.8 20 481 Koppies 12 35 655 Krugersdrift 1970 1 853 3.6 33 598 Bloemfontein 42 36 891 Moutloatsi Setlogelo 1981 250 5.6 20 279 Thaba Nchu 7 5 20 Rustfontein 1955 1 159 6.2 29 265 Bloemfontein 40 35 865 Sol Plaatjie 1968 356 4.4 45 91 Bethlehem 8 8 84 Sterkfontein 1980 6 937 37.7 > 200 59 Harrismith 16 9 63 Tierpoort 1923 911 3.7 25 418 Bloemfontein 35 4 9 Vaal 1938 32 275 7.9 27 204 Oranjeville and Deneysville 1.5 34 861 Welbedacht 1973 1 018 1 10 298 Wepener 27 6 29 Constr. year = construction year; SA = surface area; MD = mean depth; Z.D. = Secchi depth; Con = conductivity; DNT = distance from nearest town

TABLE 3 Summary statistics of tournament frequency, angler effort, success and catch per unit effort (CPUE) in 17 large impoundments in the Free State Province, South Africa Sample Frequency Angler effort Tournament CPUE CPUE Success size (events·year–1) (angler·day–1 ·year–1) duration (hours) (fish·angler –1·day–1) (kg· angler–1·day–1) Dam Years Mean Mean S.E. Mean S.E. (%) Mean S.E. Mean S.E. Allemanskraal 30 8 216 40 7.2 0.2 69 2.9 0.4 2.8 0.5 Bloemhoek 6 13 279 56 7.4 0.2 51 1.8 0.5 0.9 0.2 Bloemhof 36 21 622 95 7.7 0.1 81 6.5 0.7 7.2 0.8 Erfenis 20 3 74 12 9.3 0.7 55 2.3 0.4 3.7 0.8 Gariep 8 6 92 28 8.0 0.2 74 3.4 0.8 3.7 1.1 Jimmie Roos 10 2 42 18 8.2 0.1 66 5.6 2.3 3.5 1.0 Kalkfontein 23 4 89 17 9.0 0.6 66 2.8 0.4 3.0 0.4 Knellpoort 4 1 18 5 14.5 4.3 64 13.5 7.8 5.9 3.1 Koppies 35 19 507 107 8.2 0.1 67 2.8 0.3 2.1 0.2 Krugersdrift 36 25 502 77 16.5 3.3 67 3.4 0.4 4.1 0.7 Moutloatsi Setlogelo 5 4 68 23 7.5 0.3 84 5.6 2.2 5.1 1.6 Rustfontein 35 25 604 76 9.0 0.5 68 3.4 0.3 2.9 0.2 Sol Plaatjie 8 11 193 76 7.9 0.1 60 2.2 0.8 1.5 0.7 Sterkfontein 9 7 147 41 7.0 0.4 57 3.4 0.8 2.0 0.4 Tierpoort 4 2 42 18 9.4 1.1 61 3.6 1.7 5.1 2.3 Vaal 34 25 599 89 9.0 0.2 67 3.3 0.5 2.4 0.3 Welbedacht 6 5 122 47 No data No data 28 0.5 0.2 0.7 0.2 All dams 118 248 54 9.1 0.7 64 3.9 0.7 3.3 0.4 S.E. = standard error

http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/wsa.v43i3.09 Available on website http://www.wrc.org.za ISSN 1816-7950 (Online) = Water SA Vol. 43 No. 3 July 2017 Published under a Creative Commons Attribution Licence 446 Tournament catches were dominated by C. carpio which Evidence from licence sales was supported by a similar made up between 42 and 98% of the weight and 9 and 99% 67% decrease in reported tournament effort, from a maximum of the total catch in number. Overall this species comprised of 8 548 tournament days in 1998 to 2 828 days in 2014. The 81% of the weight and 77% of the numbers of all fish landed applicable regulations for hosting angling tournaments and by tournament anglers making it the most important angling for anglers to obtain angling licences according to the Nature species. Other important angling species were L. capensis and Conservation Ordinance have not changed and the decreases C. gariepinus (see Table 4). are very likely an indication of a decrease in the number of recreational anglers and not a change in legislation. DISCUSSION Estimates based on licence sales may, however, be biased. For example, all anglers that are affiliated with angling clubs This assessment demonstrates that recreational angling, are obliged to obtain an angling licence while the majority of including tournament angling, continues to be an important subsistence anglers are unlicensed (LM Barkhuizen, pers. obs.). fisheries activity in the Free State Province of South Africa, These observations are supported by Ellender et al. (2009), although both tournament and licence sale data demonstrate who, on the basis of 750 interviews conducted with recreational that participation appears to have decreased in recent years. and subsistence anglers on Gariep Dam, reported that most According to McCafferty et al. (2012), there are unfortunately recreational but few of the approx. 450 subsistence fishers were few recreational angling data available for comparison. Data in possession of an angling licence. As subsistence angling that are available are mostly too old or cover too wide a constituted 60% of angling effort on that dam, licence sale geographical area for meaningful assessment. Historical data data alone are now unlikely to provide an accurate indication do, however, illustrate the rapid increase in participation in of utilisation by anglers. This is unfortunate as subsistence recreational angling from the 1950s to the 1970s. Du Plessis angling is now common in many South African impoundments and Le Roux (1965), for example, reported an increase in (Weyl et al., 2007; Ellender et al., 2010a; Tapela et al., 2015) and angling licence sales from 28 000 in 1951 to 49 000 in 1957 licensing would not only legitimize access, but also allow for a and 61 380 in 1963 in the former Transvaal Province, which better quantification of this sector. today would include Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Gauteng and the As angling provides important food security and provides North West Provinces. Subsequent to their report, the number an economic safety-net for subsistence anglers (Ellender et al., of licences increased to 68 000 in 1964 (Skelton, 1993), 100 000 2009; Tapela et al., 2015), a comprehensive survey to assess for in 1970 (Mulder, 1971) and 117 093 in 1978 (Cadieux, 1980). total angling participation is therefore an urgent requirement Unfortunately, no subsequent assessments were undertaken if the importance of angling to rural communities is to be to enable a more recent comparison. Similarly, in the Free estimated. This is particularly important because the value State Province, the only available historic information on of these fisheries to subsistence and livelihoods needs to be the number of recreational anglers is from Marshall (1972), recognised as all attempts to develop formal commercial who reported that there were 23 708 recreational anglers in fisheries have failed (Barkhuizen et al., 2016). the former Orange Free State Province during 1970 and 32 In terms of target species, it is interesting to note that, 065 in 1971. The current (2014) enumeration of licence sales for bank anglers, alien C. carpio are the most important demonstrated that there were 7 710 licensed recreational component in the catch. Du Plessis and Le Roux (1965) noted anglers in the Province which indicates a 76% decrease in the that the primary target species for anglers in the former number of licensed recreational anglers since 1971. Transvaal Province was C. carpio, Mozambique tilapia

TABLE 4 Summary of species catch composition in weight (W) and numbers (N) in angling tournaments held in the Free State Province between 1974 and 2014 Total catch Carp Catfish Mudfish Others Locality W N %W %N %W %N %W %N %W %N Allemanskraal 14 868 17 445 55.8 53.7 33.1 27.1 7.6 14.6 3.4 4.6 Bloemhoek 1 102 2 289 77 65.7 2.9 2.1 19.9 32.1 0.2 0 Bloemhof 158 068 140 539 91.1 91.7 7.5 5.7 0.9 1.7 0.6 0.9 Erfenis 5 183 3 254 42.2 46.2 54.1 43.8 1.6 4.9 2.2 5.2 Gariep 3 289 2 535 83.6 87.7 13 8.6 1 1.6 2.4 2.1 Jimmie Roos 1 382 1 467 97.8 95 0.9 2.3 0.5 1.3 0.7 1.4 Kalkfontein 5 898 5 594 84.1 83.7 7.2 5.9 3 3.9 5.8 6.5 Knellpoort 504 1 155 87.4 88.6 4.9 2.7 7.2 8.5 0.4 0.3 Koppies 36 993 45 878 46.1 47.3 18.1 10.1 30.1 35.7 5.8 7 Krugersdrift 68 539 63 829 88 90.7 10.5 6.3 1.1 2.2 0.5 0.8 Moutloatsi Setlogelo 1 469 1 452 73.8 60.8 15.6 5.9 10.5 33.3 0 0 Rustfontein 59 599 67 875 81 75.2 5.3 4.7 11.5 17.2 2.1 2.9 Sol Plaatje 1 433 1 849 57.1 49.5 17.5 17.1 24.1 32.6 1.3 0.8 Sterkfontein 3913 6 629 20.8 9.4 5.1 2.2 65.1 84.1 9 4.3 Tierpoort 1 210 878 97.7 98.7 2.3 0.9 0 0.1 0 0.2 Welbedacht 657 471 34.1 6.6 65 90.9 0.4 0.6 0.6 1.9 Vaal 50 018 66 122 77.7 70.8 7.5 8.6 10.9 17.1 3.7 3.4 TOTAL 414 125 429 261 80.5 77.2 10.2 7.8 7.3 12.5 1.9 2.5

http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/wsa.v43i3.09 Available on website http://www.wrc.org.za ISSN 1816-7950 (Online) = Water SA Vol. 43 No. 3 July 2017 Published under a Creative Commons Attribution Licence 447 Oreochromis mossambicus and C. gariepinus. Cochrane (1987), REFERENCES working on the eutrophic Hartbeespoort Dam, estimated that 65% of the 695 t annual average harvest by recreational ASA (American Sportfishing Association) (2016) URL: http://www. ASAfishing.org (Accessed 12 September 2016). anglers was C. carpio. This is supported by tournament data BARKHUIZEN LM (2015) An assessment of fish and fisheries in for the Free State Province, where C. carpio contributed 81% impoundments in the Upper Orange-Senqu and lower Vaal River of the total weight and 77% of the total numbers of all fish Basin. PhD thesis, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein. landed (Table 4). The findings from tournament data were BARKHUIZEN LM, WEYL OLF and VAN AS JG (2016) A qualitative surprisingly consistent with the results of a comprehensive and quantitative analysis of historic commercial fisheries in the Free State Province in South Africa. Water SA 42 (4) 601–605. creel survey comprising more than 700 anglers’ interviews https://doi.org/10.4314/wsa.v42i4.10 and catch inspections at Gariep Dam, and which found that BRAND M, MAINA J, MANDER M and O’BRIEN G (2009) angler catches comprised mainly of C. carpio (74%), followed Characterisation of the social and economic value of the use and by L. capensis (13%) and L. aeneus (8%) (Ellender et al., 2009; associated conservation of the yellowfishes in the Vaal River. WRC 2010a; 2010b). Report No. KV 226/09. Water Research Commission, Pretoria. BREMNER JM, ROGERS J and WILLIS JP (1990) Sedimentological aspects of the 1988 Orange River floods. Trans. R. Soc. S. Afr. Considerations for fisheries development 47 247–294. https://doi.org/10.1080/00359199009520243 BRITZ PJ, HARA MM, WEYL OLF, TAPELA BN and ROUHANI Based on the number of angling licences sold at provincial Q (2015) Scoping study on the development and sustainable nature reserves and resorts and where angling tournaments utilisation of inland fisheries in South Africa. Volume 1: were held, the most important impoundments in the Free Scoping Report. WRC Report No. TT 615-1-14. Water Research Commission, Pretoria. State Province for bank angling are Allemanskraal, Bloemhof, CADIEUX JJ (1980) Freshwater angling in the Transvaal: Erfenis, Koppies, Krugersdrift and, historically, Rustfontein. environmental and economic impact. S. Afr. J. Sci. 76 (11) 492–493. All of these impoundments’ surface areas at full supply level, COCHRANE KL (1987) The biomass and yield of the dominant except for Rustfontein Dam, are larger than 1 400 ha. fish species in Hartbeespoort Dam, South Africa.Hydrobiologia Impoundments located close to urban areas (e.g. 146 89–96. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00007581 Krugersdrift, Rustfontein, Allemanskraal, Erfenis, Koppies COMPTON JS, HERBERT CT, HOFFMAN MT, SCHNEIDER RR and STUUT J (2010) A tenfold increase in the Orange and Vaal Dams) were visited by the most recreational anglers. River mean Holocene mud flux: implications for soil erosion Cadieux (1980) also noted that the most popular angling in South Africa. The Holocene 20 (1) 115 – 122. https://doi. venues in the former Transvaal Province were those close to org/10.1177/0959683609348860 major urban areas. The popularity of Hartbeespoort Dam COOKE SJ, LAPOINTE NWR, MARTINS EG, THIEM JD, RABY GD, as an angling venue was attributed by Cochrane (1987) to its TAYLOR MK, BEARD TD and COWX IG (2013) Failure to engage the public in issues related to inland fishes and fisheries strategies: close proximity to two major urban areas, namely Pretoria and strategies for building public and political will to promote Johannesburg, in the Gauteng Province. meaningful conservation. J. Fish Biol. 83 997–1018. https://doi. No quantitative assessment has ever been done on org/10.1111/jfb.12222 the economic value of recreational bank angling in the DU PLESSIS SS and LE ROUX PJ (1965) Sport fisheries in river Free State Province. Based on assessments of the value of development with reference to the Orange River Scheme. S. Afr. recreational fisheries elsewhere in South Africa (see Du J. Sci. 61 (3) 137–146. DU PREEZ M and LEE DE (2010) The contribution of trout Plessis and Le Roux, 1965; Cadieux, 1980; Brand et al., 2009; fly fishing to the economy of Rhodes, North Eastern Cape, Du Preez and Lee, 2010; ASA, 2016), the contribution of this South Africa. Dev. South. Afr. 27 (2) 241–253. https://doi. activity to the economy of the Free State Province is likely org/10.1080/03768351003740654 to be considerable. In addition, angling for subsistence use ELLENDER BR, WEYL OLF and WINKER H (2009) Who uses contributes considerably to food security in some localities the fishery resources in South Africa’s largest impoundment? Characterising subsistence and recreational fishing sectors on (see Ellender et al., 2010a). For these reasons, it is important Lake Gariep. Water SA 35 677–682. https://doi.org/10.4314/wsa. that angling is recognised in the development of fisheries. v35i5.49194 This is particularly important as anglers have become vocal ELLENDER BR, WEYL OLF, WINKER H and BOOTH AJ (2010a). opponents to legislative and developmental projects which they Quantifying the annual fish harvest from South Africa’s largest feel might impinge negatively on them. As angling licences freshwater reservoir. Water SA 36 45–51. https://doi.org/10.4314/ do provide an opportunity to enumerate participation, it is wsa.v36i1.50906 ELLENDER BR, WEYL OLF, WINKER H, STELZHAMMER H and highly recommended that an effort be made to license all TRAAS GRL (2010b) Estimating angling effort and participation anglers in the Free State Province such that an estimate of total in a multi-user, inland fishery in South Africa. Fish. Manage. Ecol. participation in this sector can be quantified. 17 19–27. FS DETEA. (2009). Free State Environmental Outlook: A report on ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS the state of the environment. Free State Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Bloemfontein. HARGROVE JS, WEYL OLF, ALLEN MS and DEACON NR (2015) LMB thanks the FS DESTEA for support during the study on Using angler tournament data to rapidly assess the invasion status fish and inland fisheries in the Orange-Senqu River Basin. of alien sport fishes Micropterus( spp.) in southern Africa. PLoS OLFW would like to thank the National Research Foundation ONE 10 (6) E0130056. Doi: 10.137/journal.pone.0130056. (Grant No.77444); the DST/NRF Centre of Excellence for https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0130056 Invasion Biology and the Water Research Commission (WRC) MARSHALL RD (1972) An investigation into the biology of Labeo umbratus (A. Smith) Boulenger, 1841. Progress Report No. 1, Nature solicited and funded project ‘Baseline and scoping study on the Conservation, Orange Free State Provincial Administration. development and sustainable use of storage dams for inland McCAFFERTY JR, ELLENDER BR, WEYL OLF and BRITZ P (2012) fisheries and their contribution to rural livelihoods’ (WRC The use of water resources for inland fisheries in South Africa. Project No. K5/1957/4) for support. Water SA 38 327–344. https://doi.org/10.4314/wsa.v38i2.18

http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/wsa.v43i3.09 Available on website http://www.wrc.org.za ISSN 1816-7950 (Online) = Water SA Vol. 43 No. 3 July 2017 Published under a Creative Commons Attribution Licence 448 MULDER PFS (1971) ’n Ekologiese studie van die hengelvisfauna TAYLOR CG, WEYL OLF, COWLEY PD and ALLEN MS (2015) van die Vaalriviersisteem, met spesiale verwysing na Barbus Dispersal and population-level mortality of Micropterus salmoides kimberleyensis Gilchrist and Thompson. Provinsiale Vissery associated with catch and release tournament angling in a South Instituut, Lydenburg. African reservoir. Fish. Res. 162 37 – 42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j. NCO (Nature Conservation Ordinance) (1969) Nature Conservation fishres.2014.09.014 Ordinance no. 8 of 1969. Orange Free State Provincial Government, WEYL OLF and COWLEY PD (2015) Fisheries in subtropical and Bloemfontein. temperate regions of Africa. In: Craig JF (ed.) Freshwater Fisheries NCR (Nature Conservation Regulations) (1983) Nature Conservation Ecology. John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, UK. Regulations, Administrator’s Notice184 of 12 August 1983. Orange WEYL OLF, POTTS W, ROUHANI Q and BRITZ P (2007) The need Free State Provincial Government, Bloemfontein. for inland fisheries policy in South Africa: A case study of the OPPERMAN RWJ (1965) The recreational potential of the Orange North West Province. Water SA 33 1–8. River Project. S. Afr. J. Sci. 61 (3) 147–151. WEYL OLF, BOOTH AJ, WINKER H, TRAAS GRL, McCAFFERTY SASACC (South African Sport Anglers and Casting Confederation) JR, PEEL RA and WARTENBERG R (2010) Assessment of the (2016) URL: http://www.sasacc.co.za (Accessed 31 October 2016). fishery potential for alien species on Darlington Dam. Sundays SKELTON PH (1993) ’n Volledige Gids tot die Varswatervisse van River Freshwater Fish Research Project. Report No. 5. 59 pp. Suider-Afrika. Southern Boekuitgewers, Halfweghuis. 387 pp. YATES JH (1963) The Orange Free State. In: Harrison AC, Shortt- STATS SA (Statistics South Africa) URL: http://statssa.gov.za Smith KE, Yates JH, Jubb RA, Rushby G and Flamwell CT (eds) (Accessed 25 July 2016). (1963) Freshwater Fish and Fishing in Africa. Nelson Publishers, TAPELA B, BRITZ PJ and ROUHANI Q (2015) Scoping study on the Johannesburg. 96–101. development and sustainable utilisation of inland fisheries in South Africa. Volume 2. Case studies of small-scale inland fisheries. WRC Report No. TT 615-1-14. Water Research Commission, Pretoria.

http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/wsa.v43i3.09 Available on website http://www.wrc.org.za ISSN 1816-7950 (Online) = Water SA Vol. 43 No. 3 July 2017 Published under a Creative Commons Attribution Licence 449